The smell of pancakes filled J’s Breakfast Club as people crowded in, hoping to grab a bite to eat and catch the commotion unfolding in the back of the restaurant.
A crowd of people huddled together around tables, artworks, and snacks on Sunday as Gary native and world-renowed artist PeQue prepared to unveil the monthslong project he worked on with students from Gary Middle School.
As part of the Greatness of Gary project, a citywide effort led by the Gary Alumni Pathway to Students (GAPS) designed to connect art and the culture of Gary, PeQue worked with several students for weeks to create murals and billboards showcasing the city’s rich legacy. Last fall, he hosted after-school digital workshops that allowed students to explore art forms that they’ve never worked with before while learning history about their hometown.
The project will produce three billboards that will be put up throughout the year that the students and PeQue have done.
“For all the accolades that came [to] me, I’m grateful to hear those things, but what’s better than all of that is when we can give back to our children,” he said nervously, as he awaited revealing the first billboard to the crowd. “I made it up in my mind, about 10 years ago, that the only work I’m going to do is legacy work.”
The billboard, which went up Monday, is located on the south side of Broadway. It features six Gary natives: U.S. Rep. Katie Hall, who helped establish the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday; Mayor Richard G. Hatcher, Gary’s first Black mayor; NBA All-Star Darius Garland; astronaut Frank Borman, a member of the Apollo 8 mission that successfully orbited the moon; MLB power hitter Ron Kittle; and Olympic gymnast Dianne Durham, the first Black national gymnastics champion. Students selected one person each to draw, with help from PeQue.
The mural features images of six Gary icons. (Rayonna Burton-Jernigan/Capital B)
Lisa Bennett, executive director of GAPS, said she asked PeQue, her lifelong friend, to assist with the project, which helped pay it forward to the next generation of Gary youth.
“Our greatness goes so much deeper than what people are willing to talk about,” Bennett said.
As executive director, Bennett said her goal with the project and her work with the organization was to connect students with Gary school alumni who have built successful careers and show them that anything is possible.
“I have so much pride in Gary,” she said.
Gary Middle School Principal Shenita Walker was among the attendees at the event, and she watched with pride as attendees looked at the work that her students did.
“It’s important to me for my students to have these experiences,” she said. With many schools in the district not having any art teachers, this is an opportunity for many students to get involved in the arts. She took photos of the mockup and cheered at the mockup that was revealed.
“Art is important because it is culture,” Walker said.
Wanting to take the project further — and known for adding a little flair to his work — PeQue added an augmented reality effect that people can see with the Artivive app. Through the app, people can view music, movement from artworks, or even 3D effects on the billboard.
“It’s one thing to have beautiful work. It’s another thing where you can educate people,” he stated.
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